PS 3523 
fl68 T4 
1903 
Copy 1 



I 



IS SPRyVY OF 

'igriRRN PINE 

^A BOGABBUS . LARDNER 







v^ 



.% - 



I:kli-IJSTR,.ATED 




Class IP.S.35_LS, 



GopightlJ" I ^Od 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




"COMRADES." 

These comrades are happy— at rest or at play: 

They joy just ni being alive! 
In looking- at them, "there are four," you will say: 

But I am quite sure there are firel 



ss 



Thi4: Sprajr qf 

Western Vine"' 



By LENA BOGARDUS LARDNER 



FULLY ILLUSTRATED 




NEW YORK 

BroadwQLV Publishing CompOLny 

1903 



\* J > J » » 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Copies Receive* 

SEP i 190 

. Copyngl>t Entry 



SEP i 1903 iFS'iSZ'b 

;^opyfigl>t Entry 1: 
CLASS OL XXc. No ! . R l^^ ' I 



COPY B, 



\yb 



Copyright, 1903, 



LENA BOGARDUS LARDNER. 



All Rights Reserved. 



TO 

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. 

To our Chief Ruler, firm and good, 
(By wise and simple understood,) 
I offer — neither rare nor fine — 
This simple '* spray of Western pine." 

Lena B. Lardner. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



V 

"Comrades" Frontispiece 

PASE 

The Western Girl 1 

My Sunbeam 11 • 

Scenes in a Western Parisli 15 

A Reincarnation? 27 " 

Tlie Strenuous Life 31 v.'" 

Evangeline I. J 35 ' 

y Contrasts. 
Evangeline II. ) 36 

A Dog Tale 37 ^ 

Dovragiac Creek 42 ' 

The Old Home 43 ^-^^ 

St, Joseph River 4G 

Castle Rest 4(1 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

The Western Girl 1 

A Dream of Authors 3 

Praise and Blame <> 

Westward, Ho! 7 

Inaction 9 

Lost Chords 10 

My Sunbeam 11 

Thoughts on Reading "Up from Slavery" 13 

To Mr. Andrew Carnegie 14 

Scenes in a Western Parish 15 

"God, too, Boys!" 17 

A Legend of King Solomon 18 

The "Star" at Church 20 

"Rest Awhile" . 21 

A Modern Saint Cecelia 23 

"Who Will Roll Away the Stone?" 24 

Our Congressman 25 

A Re-incarnation ? 27 

The Pessimist 28 

Memorial Day, 1903 29 

"Sans Peur" 30 

"The Strenuous Life" 31 

To Friends in Canada 32 

"Not Knocking Anyone" 33 

Contrasts 35 

The Point of View 3G 

A Dog Tale 37 

Race Suicide 39 

"Love on Thine Own Level" 41 

Do wagiac Creek 42 

The Old Home 43 

"E'en Brings A' Hame" 45 

Castle Rest: On the St. Joseph River 46 




The Western Girl. 



THIS SPRAY OF WESTER}^ PINE. 



THE WESTEEN" GIRL". 

Sweet are the maids of Gibson fame. 

Of Christy— Hutt—( "what's in a name?") 

But 'dearer is to me the Pearl, 

The bright and bonnie Western girl 1 

She wins with unaffected charm, 

Whether in cities or on farm ; 

As cook or hostess comme il faut. 

She knows just what she ought to know. . 

Her mobile face reflects her moods ; 
Tho' sensitive, she never broods 
O'er fancied slights — ^but, frank and free^ 
.Veils others' faults with Charity. 

Her voice is not trainant and low ; 
But what she says is right, you know. 
And her "I love you" rings so true, 
It seems as sweet as honey-dew ! 



" This Spray of Western Pine." 

As wholesome as our piney groves. 
As sparkling as the lakes she loves ; 
Pure as the moon whose light is cast 
O'er the wild streams and prairies vast ; 
Of all life's jewels she's the Pearl, 
Our bright and bonnie Western girl ! 



A Dream of Authors, 



A DREAM OF AUTHORS. 

(With Apologies for Lapsus Lingua in "Dead'' 
Tongues.) 

A dream I had at lone midnight, 

(When sense to fancy yields) ; 
I saw our authors — "out of sight/' 

In the Elysian fields ; 
It seemed that they had passed away 

Beyond our earthly ken ; 
And I, awhile, was let to stray 

Far from the haunts of men. 
Ko critics there to mar their peace ; 

No trouble, care nor pangs ; 
Tho' present — (wonders never cease!) 

Were How-el-ls, and Payne, and Bangs I 
And each was happy in his way. 

Some sought the vale, the wood ; 
Others among the flowers did stray ; 

And all were understood! 



4 'Mhis Spray of Western Pine.'^ 

"Ella r called loud a Philistine; 

But she was not in sight — 
"I thought it had Ben Hur, I ween, 

Your footsteps are so light 
Wallace !" The Sage of Crawf ordsville 

Eeplied "Just Wheel-er here, 
Hubhard — ^she's half way up the hill ; 

The way is smooth and clear. 
No author here may scorn the rest, 

Tho' laurels he has won. 
We can't compare with two — (the best), 

David and Solomon!" 
In peaceful Eosefield — Eoe, Harte, Bok 

Forgot their native wild ; 
While female writers — (a fair flock) 

Upon them gazed and smiled 
Till "Teddy" came, with hasty stride, 

And reached out for his gun ; 
"Oh! I forgot," he said (and sighed), 

"My strenuous life is Dunne. 
But there are compensations here; 

I'll eat with whom I will. 
Come, Booker, we need have no fear ; 

Let's talk — and take our fill ! 
1^0 one Dun-bar our friendship true. 

Or draw the color line. 
In all we see (as angels do) 

The spark of Life Divine !" 



A Dream of Authors. 

^Mid ''^stars^' of great and lesser light, 

ISTear the fine Castles Twain, 
Stood our own Mark — ^his eyes shone bright 

At seeing Stephen Crane. 
"You Innocent Abroad/' he said, 

"I'm glad to meet you here. 
O'er your young grave sad tears were shed, 

Although your books are queer !" 
"Earth-life is queer," Stephen replied. 

"Just what I saw, I told. 
The soldier quailed — lost Maggie cried. 

And Gee ! the sea was cold !" 
Booth Tarkington (with doughnuts near). 

Some hungry friend to Ad<e, 
Looked down, with eyes serene and clear 

At Crawford in the shade ; 
Lying without a pen in hand. 

In mood of endless bliss ; 
For dreams of fair Italia's land 

Were far surpassed by this ! 
McCutcheon, Pemberton and Page, 

Smith, Riley, Stedman, Sill, 
With writers of an earlier age 

Conversed, with right good will. 
Dear Uncle Remus laughed and sang 

And cracked full many a joke ; 
But (listening to his banjo's twang) 

I (to my grief) awoke ! 



6 " This Spray of Western Pine." 



PEAISE AND BLAME. 

"Only the Master shall praise ns. 
And' only the Master shall blame." 

— RuDYARD Kipling. 

So sings the Poet Laureate of the world ; 

So sings my heart — in echo to the thought ! 
For I have seen the shafts envenomed hurled 

By critics — ^which to pure lives ruin brought ! 

My Master^s judgments I no longer dread ; 

Striving His will to do — not as a thrall. 
But as a loving child ; by Wisdom led 

Under His care — who knows and pities all. 

But human critics rouse my warmest ire ; 

Their right to praise or blame I still deny ; 
Our fellow man, to judge, should not aspire 

Since he is he — mortal — and I am I ! 

Because he can not look into my soul, 

But measures me by outward actions shown. 

He blames or praises weakly — ^but my whole 
Is by the Master seen — and Him alone! 

Wherefore, let us lift up our voice and sing 
With this inspired bard his happy lay ! 

Faith in the future life will comfort bring ; 
And may our Master hasten the bright Day ! 



Westward, Ho! 



WESTWARD, HO! 

When Roosevelt conies, Chicago cheers ; 
To welcome him a crowd appears. 
E'en aged men forget their years 
When Roosevelt comes ! 

As on he goes, the cowboy beams ; 
With pristine feasts the prairie teems; 
And "Lo" forgets his wild pipe dreams 
When Roosevelt comes ! 

The workman's friend (tho' "blue^' in blood). 
He aims to do mankind most good ; 
We all are swayed to his own mood 
When Roosevelt comes ! 

Religious, clever, virile, strong. 
Fearless in fighting down a wrong; 
What wonder that the people throng. 
When Roosevelt comes ? 



8 "This Spray of Western Pine.' 

To the blest Home of patriots good. 
Our Washington's great Brotherhood 
Will welcome him — in gracious moo'di 
When Eoosevelt comes ! 



Inaction. 9 



INACTION. 

Like an old war-horse, at the bugle's call, 

I start — I rise — then, broken-hearted, fall ! 

I hear the laborers in the harvest field ; 

Yet to my body's weakness I must yield. 

Helpless and feeble, longing to be there, 

Where once of work I did my honest share. 

No loiterer was I. It sorely grieves 

My soul to know I can bring no new sheaves 

To Him — the Master — yet it is His hand 

Which smites me thus ; He all my life has planned, 

And will receive me at the Golden Gate. 

^'^They also serve who only stand and wait." 



10 "This Spray of Western Pine." 



LOST CHORDS. 

"Strike (for Love's sake) the waiting keys 
That own the touch of Master hand, 

And waken those sweet harmonies 

That thrill the soul — at thy command !" 

From hand to heart the sweet strain flows ; 

I sit bewitched by music's spell ; 
List'ning — forgetting Life has woes. 

As the grand chords now ebb — now swell. 

l'envoi. 

Only the echoes linger^lone. 
And dark is all the world to me ; 

No more I hear love's tender tone, 
For light and music fled with thee ! 




'My Sunbeam,' 



My Sunbeam. II 



MY SUNBEAM. 

Happy the home where "joyous children" live ; 

Poor tho' it be, and mean ; or grand and proud ; 
Their sunny tempers pure delight can give, 

And "gild the edges of life's blackest cloud/' 

0, sweet Felicia ! my sunny child ! 

How could I live without thy radiant smile? 
It brightens life's long path thro' desert wild, 

And, from all Sorrow's shadows can beguile I 

Yet coming years to thee must shadows bring, 
Even to thee — my bright one — dense and chill; 

For love may fail, to which thy heart did cling ; 
And envious jealousy may work thee ill ! 

Ah ! sooner would I see thee, young and pure. 
Safe in thy cqffin laid — thy spirit free — 

Than leave thee life's hard trials to endure, 
The hatred, scorn and heart's dull misery ! 



12 " This Spray of Western Pine." 

Cease, doubting heart! the God who led thee 
through 

Will lead thy chiMt — and light life's weary way ; 
The blessing that her brightness is to you 

May be her own — in Sorrow's evil day ! 



Thoughts. 13 



THOUGHTS ON EEADING ^^UP FROM 
SLAVERY." 

I read this book, unique, thro' mists of tears, 
Astonished at the miracle of years ! 
In darkest slavery born — child of disgrace ! 
This man looms up — the chosen of his race ! 
Unspoiled and simple ; grand of heart and soul ; 
Urging his brethren to the highest goal ; 
Upon his breast (like the High Priest of yore) 
He bears their names, beseeching o'er and o'er 
That God will listen from His throne on high ! 
*^My people ! Bless my people !" is his cry. 
A lowly slave, in want and squalor bred ! 
A man to whom bows e'en the crowned head ! 
Who brought such fruitage from a seeming clod? 
There is one answer only : "It was God !" 
In that fair Land which holdis no color line 
This dusky Saint shall with true heroes shine ! 



14 '^ This Spray of Western Pine." 



TO MR. ANDREW CARNEGIE. 

Show'ring thy gifts o'er all our country wide, 
Kind, generous Scot ! true gratitude thou'st won ; 

Yet, shouldst thou feel in this the greatest pride, 
The aid thou gavest Booker Washington ! 

It means so much to him — thy thoughtfulness ! 

No more need want of means obstruct his work ; 
That golden stream his dusky race shall bless. 

And give them wisdom's light for vice's murk. 

There is a bond between unselfish souls ; 

One can as nobly taJce^ as one can give; 
The wave of Brotherhood still onward rolls ! 

Let us rejoice that in this age we live ! 




Scenes in a Western Parish, 



Scenes in a Western Parish. 15 



SCENES IN A WESTERN PARISH. 

The parish, bore 

Came in the door; 
The rector fled 

To rooms overhead. 
(His wife, he knew. 

Would "see it through/') 

At last he heard 

A parting word. 
And rashly cried: 

"Must I still hide? 
Or has that bore 

Gone out the door?" 

His wife — appalled 

But tactful, called : 
*'Yes ! hours ago 

She went, you know ; 
But come down, dear ! 

Miss H. is here !" 



16 "This bpray of Western Pine." 

Meekly he came, 

(Himself to blame), 
And did his best 

To please his guest. 
Moral — A woman's skill 

Wards off much ill. 

Old lady — ^^reviewing" the corpse of the village 

gossip : ' 

"How still she is !" 



"God, Too, Boys!" 17 



'^GOD, TOO, BOYS !" 

Ere the white-vested choir their march began 
Thus the choirmaster's exhortation ran: 

"Now do your best, boys : sing out loud and clear 
Because, to-day, the Vanderbilts are here.'' 

The aged rector bowed a reverent head: 
"God, too, is here, my boys !" he softly said. 



18 " This Spray of Western Pine.' 



A LEGEND OF KING SOLOMON. 

Proverbs 1.5: 17. 

King Solomon, weary of folly and sin, 

Stepped forth in disguise from the court's dizzy 
din; 
And traversed the streets with a keen, watchful eye, 

Observing the manners of men who passed by ; 
With quick, listening ears catching all that was 
said, 
(It is to be noted his left ear was red). 
Till feeling quite hungry and tired and footsore. 

He paused for refreshments at Ur's cottage door. 
"May God's peace rest with thee," the host kindly 
said, 
"Come in and share with ur> our lentils and 
bread." 
The King, with due thanks, sat with Ur and his 
wife, 
And ate, vnth. much gusto, the meal of his life. 



A Legend of King Solomon. 19 

Tho' humble the dinner, contentment was there, 
(Which makes a rich sauce for the very worst 
fare). 

Next day a stalled ox to Ur's cottage was led, 
A purse full of shekels attached to its head ; 

And with it my text: (which the story soon told). 
Inscribed by Ariah — in letters of gold. 



20 " This Spray of Western Pine." 



THE ^^STAR" AT CHURCH. 

Here is no masque — no mime — no role, 
She has no need to play a part ; 

But offers with her fervent soul 
The homage of a loving heart ! 



Rest Awhile." 21 



"REST AWHILE/' 

St. Mark 6:31. 

Eest ! thou art weary of the world's vain pleasure ; 

Eor thee the giddy whirl has lost its zest ; 
He calleth thee who loves beyond all measure : 

"Come, heavy laden — I will give thee rest." 

Rest is not sloth — be constant in devotion ; 

Enter the portals opened wide for all ! 
Thy Father's House has room : with deep emotion 

Possess thy rightful place — obey His call ! 

There, kneeling low before His holy altar 
The burden of thy sin shall loosed be ; 

What tho' thy earth-stained lips in prayer may 
falter! 
He heareth — and He lo'veth tenderlv! 



22 " This Spray of Western Pine." 

Gently the Everlasting Arms shall bear thee 
(So thou but trust them) o'er life's thorny 
way; 
From needless toil thy Saviour's love will spare 
thee. 
And make thy strength be equal to thy day. 

Thus shalt thou gain fresh hope, and strength, 
and beauty ; 

Thus shall thy longing heart conclude its quest : 
The ^'Holy Grail" thou'lt find— an-d' in thy duty 

Securely calm — enjoy the promised Rest ! 



A Modern Saint Cecelia. 23 



A MODERN SAINT CECELIA. 

She sits among the snowy-vested choir, 
Herself white-robed — and like a lily fair; 

Some angel, surel}^, doth her touch inspire 

As from the keys she wakes sweet music there. 

Play on, dear Saint! (for Saints on earth still 
live!) 

And use for God thy talent rare and fine ; 
So shalt thou echoes of Heaven's music give. 

Raising our earth-bound thoughts to joys divine ! 



24 "This Spray of Western Pine.' 



"WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STOXE?"' 

Too often when Faith's lamp burns dim, and we 

must struggle on 
iVlong the path that leads to Him, our strength 

seems well-nigh gone ; 
"We are too weak and weary," (thus we make our 

dismal moan) ; 
"No hand is near to help ns. Who will roll away 

the stone?" 
But lift we our grief-weighted eyes to the bright 

Dawn of Day ! 
Behold! an Angel from the skies has rolled the 

stone away! 



Our Congressman. 25 



OUR CONGRESSMAN 

E. L. HAMILTON. 

(Grandma speaks.) 

They say he's "golden" in his speech, 
And can the hearts of masses reach: 
AVell ! so it was when he was young : 
Upon his words we listening hung, 
('Twas not so very long ago.) 
Folks called him the new Cicero, 
Foretelling that he'd rise to fame 
And honor more his honored name. 
Bat what a singing voice he had! 
Its mellow tones made our hearts gla'di 
With Gospel Hymns and "Aura Lee" 
And "Clear and cool" (sweet melody), 
Airs from "Mikado"— "Old Black Joe." 
(Best songs were those of long ago!) 
But of them all we liked the hest 
"Old Shady," which he sang with zest; 



26 "This Spray of Western Pine. 

Wherever lie might chance to be 
There was a call for ''Old Shady!" 
If the swell folks at Washington 
CoTild hear him sing this — every one 
Would much prefer the simple song 
To opera — where thousands throng! 
He always had a winning way : 
Grave with the grave, gay with the gay. 
I wish he might, ^'right now," walk in 
My quiet home — ^from worldly din 
And politics awhile set free ; 
To sing "Old Shady"— just for me ! 




A Reincarnation. 



A Re-Incarnation? 27 



A EE-INCARNATION? 

This little girl whose face you see 
Was horn in eighteen forty-three 
She does not look so old — 'tis true 
And yet to me she's "nothing new." 
But just her greataunt Cicely, 
Who died when she was aged three. 
Her face, her voice, her loving ways 
Carry me hack tO' other days. 
When I was young and blithe and free 
Playing with Sister Cicely! 



28 " This Spray of Western Pine." 



THE PESSIMIST. 

Eobina cried : "Here's a pretty house 
Which man has made for our use!'* 

"Of course it's a trap/' said her angry spouse. 
"Does he think I am a goose ?" 

"Come ! help me build — and do not shirk, 

It's very late in the season; 
We can't have a nest without some work ; 

But females never can reason !" 

Happy were they — till from the West 
The Storm King, wild and rude, 

Drenched their building, tore down their nest 
And scattered the pretty brood. 

But all were saved by the kindly man. 

Whom Robin had criticised; 
And warmed and fed — and spick and span 

Lived in the house he despised ! 



Memorial Day, 1903. • 29 



MEMOKIAL DAY, 1903. 

^Teeble and old and gray" 
The vet'rans in array 
March — this Memorial Day ! 
Sweet flowers o'er mounds they strow 
Of boys in blue — laid low 
Full forty years ago ! 
Could their lips speak to-day, 
To these — their comrades gray, 
I wonder what they'd say ! 
Something (I think) like this: 
^'How much, of care we miss 
When early called to bliss ! 
AYith youth's fresh courage rife 
Fell we, in short, sharp strife; 
Then passed to endless life; 
While you — in toil and' tears- 
Have fought (these weary j^ears) 
Earth's daily foes and fears! 
For you should tears be shed, 
Not for the happy dead 
Beside whose graves ye tread !" 



30 "This Spray of Western PineJ 



"SANS PEUR." 

Brother — a boy of seven years, 

Sister — a girl of five. 
Passed through a long, dark corrider 

Where dead things seemed alive. 

And sister, sobbing, clung to him, 
(The frightened little maid) ; 

While bravely soothing her, he said : 
"Don't cry ! Fm not afraid." 

In later years — with his last breath 
He soothedi the trembling maid, 

Saying — as to his hand she clung : 
"Don't cry — I'm not afraid !" 




'The Strenuous Life.' 



The Strenuous Life." 31 



^THE STRENUOUS LIFE." 

The day's not long enough for all 

The work he has to do ; 
The weaiy eyelids droop and fall 

Before he's halfway through ! 
We smile at this — the mimic toil 

Of this young, ardent soul; 
Thinking of later life's turmoil • 

And strife to reach the goal. 
Angels, from their sublimer plain, 

May deem oui' aims, in sooth. 
As useless, frivolous and vain 

As those of early youth ! 
But God looks down with tender eyes 

And smiles indulgently. 
He doth not any toil despise, 

If true of heart are we ! 



32 " This Spray of Western Pine." 



TO FRIENDS IN CANADA. 

It is a brief, brief distance 
Between your home and mine ; 

Yet, cherished friends, to meet you 
We must cross "over the line." 

That line divides our homesteads. 
Not hearts of "auld lang syne." 

For letters, love and language 
Can reach — e'en "over the line." 

Tlius ever be commingled 
The maple leaf and pine ; 

Emblems of lasting union, 
Dear people "over the line !" 



Not Knocking Anyone. 33 



"NOT KNOCKING ANYONE." 

Who growls at everything that's done. 
Seeing no good beneath the sun, 
But what his wit and labor won? 
The Knocker ! 

Who keeps the car of progress back 
Laying obstructions on the track, 
Then grumbles that "the times are slack' 
The Knocker ! 

"The best laid schemes of mice and men 
Gang aft agley," and always when 
This happens — Oh ! he's joyful, then ! 
The Knocker ! 

There was a Knocker, long ago, 
(His name is Lucifer, you know), 
Who wrought himself a world of woe. 
Proud Knocker ! 



34 " This Spray of Western Pine." 

Then "stop dat knockin' " — Wisdom saith : 
"He^ll have to stop for want of breath ; 
It is no use to knock at Death ; 
Poor Knocker V 




Evangeline (I) 
(Contrasts) 



Contrasts. 35 



CONTRASTS. 

(Evangeline.) 

Behold the Maiden, pretty, blithe and gay. 
As to the fields she takes her careless way ! 
Then — as a "Sister" — fair, and young of years. 
But "old in grief, and very wise in tears.'' 

So tread our feet, at first, life's flowery way, 
But soon — too soon — the path, thorny and gray. 
Happy are they, who, like th' Acadian maid. 
Wreathe their rough cross with flowers that never 
fade! 



36 "This Spray of Western Pine." 



THE POINT OF VIEW. 

FROM LAKE SHORE DRIVE. 

^^Oh ! God is cruel/' the sick man cried, 
"Because, with all my wealth. 

The best of blessings He has denied — 
The glorious boon of health !" 



"How good God is !'' the tired laborer said, 

"And thankful should I be 
That He gives me strength to earn the bread 

For wife, and children three!'' 




Evangeline (II) 
iContrasfs) 




A Dog Tale. 



A Dog Tale. 37 



A DOG TALE. 

Said the good Great Dane to the Terrier bold 

"What's this I hear of you? 
You chase the cat and kittens, I'm told. 

Can it— ! can it be true T' 

"Yes/' snapped the Terrier, "and I plan 

To chase and; to bark and bite ; 
Since Tom and Lena, Bess and Nan 

Think all that I do is right !" 

^*lVe cannot be friends,'' the Dane declared, 
"While you are so off your base. 

How often have I your feelings spared ! 
And you helpless kittens chase ! 

"I'll crush you with one blow of my paw, 

If you my temper arouse !" 
The Terrier bold, responded: "Pshaw! 

Remember the Lion and Mouse! 



38 "This Spray of Western Pine" 

"But you are kind (in your clumsy way), 
And to please you I'll refrain 

From what you consider cruel play; 
rU never chase cats again.'' 

"Give me your paw/' said the dear old Dane ; 

"So we'll still be friends together. 
Let's share our dinners and never complain 

Through pleasant and stormy weather !" 

And thus did they seal their compact— each 

In loving and gentle mood. 
(I'm a dog-lover — and know their speech. 

This is why I understood!) 



Race Suicide. 39 



I 



RACE SUICIDE. 

While children throng the cottage of the poor. 
And grow like weeds in haunts of vice and 
shame ; 

The Stork is driven from the rich man's door, 
For "Mother/' there, is but a dreaded name ! 

Yet with such wealth andi leisure at command. 
This favored class should rear a noble race ; 

A generation fit to mould our Land ! 

A generation v/hich should leave its trace ! 

Ye fools and blind ! ye give up future joy 
For empty pleasures of a short to-day ! 

Children bring pleasures that can never cloy. 
And are, in Age, our comfort and our stay ! 

Dull is the richest home where they are not ; 

Selfish the hearts that shun the parent love. 
A longing weariness shall be their lot 

When old and lonel}^ — life shall empty prove. 



40 "This Spray of Western Pine." 

0, Men and Women of that purest blood. 
Which flowed in veins of noble, patriot sires: 

Let us not be overwhelmed by foreign blood ; 

But save our Homes, our Altars and our Fires ! 



"Love on Thine Own Level." 41 



"LOVE ON THINE OWN LEVEL/' 

(Ol'd Saying.) 

A cloud passed over the evening star. 

Hiding it from the violet's eye 
Which filled with tears (for she loved from afar), 

And her violet lover heard her sigh. 

"Oh ! waste not thy fragrance, love/' said he ; 

"Thou never canst reach that calm, cold height ! 
Content thyself in the garden with me — 

^Elizabeth's garden, so fresh and bright !' " 

With shy, tender grace toward him she bent. 
Raising in beauty her modest head, 

"To thee shall be given my sweetest scent. 
No higher aspiring," she softly said. 



Happy they bloomed, till a maiden fair 

Plucked them an'd pinned on her snowy vest ; 

Blent in their perfume and beauty rare, 
They sweetly died on the maiden's breast! 



42 "This Spray of Western Pine.' 



DOWAGIAC CEEEK. 

Tortuous and clear thou flowest on, fair streamlet. 
Unheeded by the city's busy throng; 

Yet art thou beautiful as storied river, 

And should inspire a worthier poet's song! 

Thou flowest s\yiftly thro' the farm and woodland, 
And all along thy banks sweet nooks are found. 

Where lured by Nature, weary man may ponder 
Over thy wondrous gifts to sight and sound. 

Thy murmuring ripples in our tongue translated', 
Might tell of dusky maiden's bliss and woe; 

Of savage rivals striving in these waters, 
Which closed above them many years ago ! 

The red man named thee and the red man loved 
thee. 

In light canoe he skimmed thy surface free ; 
But driven westward toward the reddening sunset^ 

Left thee to men less picturesque than he! 




Dowag-iac Creek. 



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The Old Home. 



The Old Home. 43 



THE OLD HOME. 
(Adapted to an Old 'Air, by L. B. L.) 

Dreams of the past come o^er me. 

In mem'ry^s colors glowing. 
Rises a home before me. 

When childhood's days too swiftly sped. 
Whatever of fame or treasure. 

Life is on me bestowing; 
All would I give with pleasure. 
Could I again youth's pathway tread, 
Could I again youth's flowery pathway tread. 

"Could those days but come again, 

With their thorns and flowers ! 
I would give the hopes of years 

For those by-gone hours." 

(Old Song.) 



44 "This Spray of Western Pine." 

Passes too soon the vision^ 

Wake I to care and sorrow! 
Flown to the fields Elysian 

Are childhood^s friends — no more on earth to meet. 
Life, with its burdens teeming, 

Awaits me on the morrow; 
Thus must I cease my dreaming, 
But still may hope for visions sweet, 
But still may hope once more for visions sweet ! 



l.ofC 



" Een' Brings A' Hame.'* 45 



^E'EN BRINGS A' HAME/' 

The Angelus chimes. 

And mill whistles blow; 
The river reflects 

The sunset's red glow; 
All the tired toilers 

For bread or for fame, 
Seek their own roof-trees. 

For "e'en brings a' hame." 

Father! we ask thee. 

In Thy Son's Name 
For "rest that remaineth," 

When "e'en brings a' hame !" 



46 "This Spray of Western Pine.' 



CASTLE REST: ON THE ST. JOSEPH 
RIVER. 

A home tho' stately — with affection blest; 
And welcome warm is found by favored guest 
Who has the luck to enter Castle Rest ! 




St. Joseph River. 



t 




'Castle Rest. 



SEP 1 1903 



